Variability of mesoscale features in the Mediterranean Sea from XBT data analysis
Résumé
The monitoring system confirmed a long-term persistence of structures (at least during the entire observing period), which were previously thought to be transient features. In particular, in the Levantine Basin anticyclonic Shikmona and Ierapetra Gyres have been observed during the monitoring period.
In order to identify the major changes in the thermal structures and the dynamical implications, the XBT data are compared with historical measurements collected in the 1980s and 1990s. The results indicate that some thermal features are being restored to the situation that existed in the 1980s, after the changes induced by the so-called "Eastern Mediterranean Transient".
Key words. Oceanography: physical (eddies and mesoscale processes; general circulation; instruments and techniques)